Murdered man made ‘flippant’ oral sex comment, witness tells court

A 60-year-old man made “a flippant comment about oral sex” while drinking with a group in an apartment in Waterford on the night he was beaten to death, said a witness in a murder trial.

Patrick Keating, aged 49, formerly of Moyne House, Grattan Quay, Waterford, denies the murder of Joe O’Brien, 60, who died last year after an incident at Apartment 1, Scotch Marsh House, William St. Anthony Marshall, who rents the apartment, told the Central Criminal Court he got up at about 10am on April 23.

Pat Keating was with Michelle Hynes in the spare room. Johanna Kelly, was sleeping on the couch. He was “sipping away” during the day, he said.

The others left and came back that night. Mr O’Brien arrived at about 9pm. While they were drinking, he said, Mr O’Brien made “a flippant comment about oral sex”. Ms Kelly said she did not like such “dirty talk”.

Mr Keating did not react, Mr Marshall said. There was tension between the two women. “Johanna actually fancied Pat,” he said. Mr Marshall went to the toilet, he said, and when he went back to the living room saw Mr Keating standing over Mr O’Brien, with a plastic 1.25kg dumbbell. “He stamped on the back of his [Mr O’Brien’s] head, twice.” He also struck Mr O’Brien with the dumbbell, Mr Marshall said.

The trial continues.